Kids and Prescription Drugs Pharming

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Kids and Prescription Drugs (Pharming)

• Information and Prevention

April 2009
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Training Objectives

• Define Pharming and identify ways teens are using
  prescription drugs to get high.
• Recognize where kids are getting prescription
  drugs.
• Identify the dangers associated with teens using
  prescription and Over-the-Counter (OTC) drugs.

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• Recognize the warning signs that a child or teen
  who is doing drugs exhibits.
• Identify things parents can do if they suspect
  their child is doing drugs.

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What is Pharming?

• Children and teens using prescription drugs or
  over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for recreational
  use.
• Many teens are using these prescription and OTC
  drugs at parties to get high.
• Pharming can have serious consequences, including
  death.
• Kids as young as 12 are trying or using
  prescription drugs.

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• According to the Partnership for a Drug Free
  America, medications can be abused in a number of
  ways. Some teens simply swallow the pills or
  drink liquids others may crush the pills before
  snorting or smoking the powder. Others melt or
  dissolve the medications, and then inject them.
  Another popular way of abusing prescription drugs
  is to mix them with alcohol and street drugs into
  cocktails.

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How Prevalent Is It?

• In the annual tracking study, conducted by The
  Partnership for a Drug Free America, one in five
  teens has abused a prescription pain medication.
• One in five report abusing prescription
  stimulants and tranquilizers.
• One in 10 has abused cough medication.

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Where Are Teens Getting Drugs?

• According to parents Teens can easily buy OTC
  cough and cold remedies at any supermarket,
  drugstore or convenience store, where these
  products are sold. They can also get them from
  home, or order them over the Internet. Even if
  kids do not order OTC drugs on-line, they can
  surf the web to find information and videos on
  what drugs to try and mix together.

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What Are Kids Using?

• The National Survey on Drug Use and Health
  identifies pain relievers, stimulants, sedatives
  and tranquilizers as being commonly abused.
• Eleven percent of teens (aged 12-17) reported
  lifetime non-medical use of pain relievers and
  four percent reported lifetime non-medical use of
  stimulants.

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Facts About Prescription Drugs

• According to Kids Health, the most commonly used
  prescription drugs fall into three categories
• Opioids such as OxyContin, Vicodin, and Demerol
  are used for pain, cough or diarrhea.
• Central Nervous System Depressants such as
  Nembutal, Valium and Xanax are used to treat
  anxiety, panic attacks and sleeplessness.

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• Stimulants such as Ritalin, Adderall and
  Strattera are used to treat narcolepsy, ADHD,
  depression, obesity and asthma.
• Many kids dont see the dangers of these
  medications, because they think if they are
  prescribed by a doctor, they are safe to use.

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Dangers of Prescription Drugs

• Abusing prescription drugs can have serious
  consequences. According to Kids Health, a single
  dose of an opioid can lower someone's breathing
  rate and even kill, when it's taken by the wrong
  person, in the wrong circumstances. The risk is
  higher when opioids are taken with other
  substances like alcohol, antihistamines and
  central nervous system (CNS) depressants.

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• Taking CNS depressants with other medications,
  such as prescription painkillers, some OTC cold
  and allergy medications, or alcohol can slow a
  person's heartbeat and breathing. This can lead
  to death.
• (Kids Health)

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Alcohol and Medications

• According to Parents,The Anti-Drug mixing
  alcohol with certain medications can cause nausea
  and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting and
  loss of coordination.
• Risks for users include internal bleeding,
  difficulty in breathing and heart problems.

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Effects of Stimulants

• Kids Health states the following effects of
  taking stimulants
• Heart failure or seizures.
• Development of a dangerously high body
  temperature or an irregular heartbeat.
• Taking several high doses over a short period of
  time may make a drug abuser aggressive or
  paranoid.
• May be habit forming.

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Effects of Over-The-Counter (OTC) Drugs

• Dextromethorphan (DXM) can be found in cough
  medicines. High doses can cause problems with
  the senses (especially vision and hearing) and
  can lead to confusion, stomach pain, numbness and
  even hallucinations. Teens are using these OTC
  medications to get highs.

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Warning Signs a Child Is Abusing Prescription/OTC
Drugs

• Unexplained disappearance of medicines from
  medicine cabinet.
• Visits to pro-drug Internet sites devoted to
  teaching others how to get and abuse prescription
  and OTC drugs.
• Declining grades loss of interest in hobbies and
  usual activities.

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• Changes in physical appearance, hygiene, behavior
  and friends.
• Disrupted eating or sleeping patterns.
• Child has cough or cold, prescription, or other
  unidentifiable medications among their personal
  belongings although they have not been ill.
• (Partnership for a Drug-Free America)

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Safeguarding Prescriptions

• Due to the easy access of the family medicine
  cabinet, there are things parents can do to
  safeguard their children from taking prescription
  drugs to get high.
• Parents should do an inventory of the contents of
  the medicine cabinet, kitchen cabinets, dressers,
  or anywhere else medicine may be stored.

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• If necessary, parents may have to monitor pill
  quantities and medicine levels in prescription
  and OTC drug containers.
• Drugs should be put away. If an adult currently
  needs them, they should be put in a place where
  they can get to them, but not where their
  children can find them.
• If there are drugs left over from a previous
  illness or injury, they should be disposed of.

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• Parents should urge their friends to perform
  medicine inventories of their own. This is
  especially true in the case of the parents of
  their childrens friends.
• (The Partnership for a Drug Free America)

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What Else Can Parents Do?

• According to the Substance Abuse and Mental
  Health Services Administration, (SAMHSA), parents
  should learn about the abuse of prescription
  drugs and educate themselves on the dangers.
• Parents should look for opportunities to talk to
  their kids about prescription drug abuse and
  other substance abuse issues.

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• In our society, there seems to be a pill to cure
  every illness. When parents see ads and
  television shows that suggest there is a pill for
  every ailment, they should discuss this with
  their kids.
• It is important for parents to know the friends
  of their children and what they like to do, so
  they can be alerted to unusual hang outs or
  activities. Getting acquainted with the parents
  of their childrens friends is a good idea too,
  so there will be a network of adults who can be
  trusted to monitor the safety of the children at
  all times.

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What To Do If A Teen Does Have a Drug Problem

• According to The Partnership for a Drug Free
  America, teen drug abuse is tied to two different
  urges
• The desire to feel good by experimenting with
  drugs, while also trying to fit in.
• Using drugs to help deal sources of stress,
  whether it is schoolwork, relationships, or
  conflicts with family or friends.

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• If a parents thinks their child is using, The
  Partnership for a Drug Free America lists these
  points parents should follow
• The power of love and family support is
  essential. There will need to be a frank
  discussion between parents and their child.
• Parents should not make the discussion an attack.
  
• If a child seems to be under the influence of
  alcohol or drugs, that is not the best time to
  talk to them.

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• Parents should wait for a calm moment, and then
  explain why they are worried about a certain
  behavior. Children should be given the
  opportunity to explain. Parents must really
  listen and not do all the talking.
• It is important for parents to share their values
  and speak frankly. They should let their child
  know how dead set they are against drugs.

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• I messages are very important. It explains how
  a childs drug use affects their parents and
  family.
• If a child seems evasive or if their explanation
  is not convincing, parents need to consult their
  doctor or a professional substance abuse
  counselor to rule out illness and to ask for
  advice.

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• If there are emotional issues, parents may also
  want to take their child to a professional
  counselor.
• Even if a child seems non-responsive or
  belligerent, if parents suspect drug use, they
  should get help immediately.
• A health professional skilled in diagnosing
  adolescents with alcohol or drug problems can
  perform a thorough evaluation.

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• Parents may want to get involved in an
  intervention program to learn techniques that
  will help convince a teen drug user to accept
  help.
• For drug abusers, there are self-help,
  outpatient, day care, residency and 24-hour
  hospitalization programs.

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• The right program depends on the circumstances
  and the degree of drug involvement.
  Professionals can help families make an informed
  decision.
• Whatever the choice, if a program is to succeed,
  the family needs to be a part of it. Personal or
  family counseling may be needed. Joining a
  support group where families can learn about
  co-dependency and prevention of future drug use,
  may also be needed.

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• Family doctors, local hospitals, school
  counselors, or county mental health organizations
  can supply families with information about
  programs in their area. Parents can also call
  the national helpline at 800-662-HELP for advice
  or how to contact a local provider.
• No matter what, parents need to remember that
  they can not give up. Their child is the same
  little boy or girl they raised, they are just way
  over their heads and they need their parents more
  than ever.

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For More Information

• Family Guide (SAMHSA), http//family.samhsa.gov/mo
  nitor/howpresdrug.aspx
• Kids Health, http//kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcoh
  ol/drugs/prescription_drug_abuse.html
• Parents, The Anti-Drug, www.theantidrug.com
• The Partnership For A Drug Free America,
  http//www.drugfree.org/

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Missouri Department of Social Services State
Technical Assistance Team

• Address
• PO Box 208Jefferson City, MO 65102-0208
• Telephone [phone](800) 487-1626(8 a.m.
  to 5 p.m. CST, Monday Friday)
• Email
•  dls.stat_at_dss.mo.gov